Box-fastener.



Patented. April 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. BEEHLER, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BOX-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,172, dated April 12, 1904.

Application riled December 5,1903. Serial No.'183,986. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. BEEHLER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Fasteners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a fastener for securing the lids of shipping-boxes; and it consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a top view of the forward portion of the lid of a shipping-box with my improved fastener applied thereto. Fig. II is a vertical section taken on line 11 11, Fig. I.

Fig. III is a vertical section taken on line III III, Fig. II. Fig. IV is a View of a modification of the catch-spring of my fastener.

A designates the front wall of a shippingboX, and B the lid of said box, the latter being provided with an aperture C.

1 designates a lid-plate secured to the lid B and provided with an aperture 2, that corresponds to and registers with the lid-aperture C.

3 is aseal-receiving ear projecting upwardly from the lid-plate and provided with an opening 1, through which a seal-wire may be passed.

5 designates a spring-catch consisting of a single piece of wire and having a swivel-arm 6, provided with a prong 7, that passes loosely through the box-Wall A, as seen in Fig. III, and a spring-arm 8. The lower end of the swivel-arm 6, that carries the prong 7 is held to the box-wall A by a staple 9, that serves to retain said prong in its seat; The springcatch 5 is'formed with a return-bend arm 10 at its upper end that projects at an angle to the arms 6 and 8 to furnish a shoulder 11, that extends over the lid-plate 1 after said returnbend arm passes through the lid-aperture C and lid-plate aperture 2 to thereby hold the boX-lid in lowered position.

' 12 designates a staplethat is driven into the box-wall A to straddle the swivel-arm and spring-arm of the catch 5 and serves to confine said arms and also as a pressure-receiving member against which the spring-arm 8 bears.

The operation of the fastener is as follows: The spring-catch swivel-arm 6 being swiveled to the box-wall at its lower end by the prong 7provides for free sidewise movement of said arm in order that the return-bend arm 10 may be moved to one side to'free it from the lidplate 1 and permit its passage through the box-lid and lid-plate apertures when the lid is either closed or opened. When the catch is in normal position, the return-bend arm is held projected in a'direction corresponding to that in which it extends by the spring-arm 8, which is held under pressure to secure tension therein by the staple 12, that incloses it. When the return-bend arm is forced rearwardly by pressure against it or a pull upon it, the spring-arm 8 rides freely within the staple 12, due to its tension being overcome in the movement of the return bend arm. This movement of the return-bend arm perapertures, as will be readily understood.

In Fig. IV, I have shown a modification of the spring-catch in which the lower swiveling end of the swivel-arm 6 is furnished with an eye 6, through which the staple 9 passes. This staple 9* in addition to serving as the pivot member for the swivel catch-arm serves to confine the lower end of the catch-arm 8.

I claim as my invention 1. In a box-fastener, the combination of an apertured lid-plate, and aspring-catch consisting of a single wire comprising a swivel-arm loosely connected to the box, a spring-arm, means for confining said spring-arm arranged to receive the pressure thereof when the catch is moved, and a return-bend arm located at the outer end of said swivel and spring arms; said return-bend arm being adapted to pass through said lid-plate and engage the outer face of the plate, substantially as set forth.

2. In a box-fastener, the combination of an apertured lid-plate, and a spring-catchconsisting of a single wire comprising a swivel-arm, a'spring-arm, a lid-plate-engaging arm, and a staple confining said swivel and spring arms, substantially as set forth.

3. In a box-fastener, the combination of an apertured lid-plate and a spring-catch consisting of a single wire comprising a swivel-arm,

mits its passage through the lid and lid-plate apertured lid-plate, and a spring-catch consist ing of a single Wire comprising a swivel-arm having a prong, a spring-arm, a lid-plate-engaging arm, a staple straddling. said swivel and spring arms, and a staple for holding said prong in the Wall of the box, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES Wa BEEHLER.

In presence of E. S. KNIGHT,

BLANCHE HOGAN. 

